Or Apple M1 chip maybe.

Take a deep breath, and start chipping away at that HELOC balance right away.Borrowing from your 401k is a horrible option, especially with how badly stocks have been beaten up this year.

Randy   Great insight Randy,I'll talk some more to family members about chipping in on the down payment but not many are interested in co-signing; that said, knowing that banks will also consider the income that property will generate gives hope to continue the journey at this stage in life!

There is a little more red tape for FHA loans around safety related aspects like chipping paint, broken windows, etc., but a great choice to jump into the game!

The ratio between new construction prices vs rental rates in Central Florida is healthy in the targeted areas (Marion Oaks, Villages, Silver Springs Shores, Belleview) and the goal would be to find a 1% rule deal i.e buy a Duplex for 300k and have it rent for at least $3,000 a month.

I started investing in 2016 and am up to $150,000 annual income from rentals, but that's with around $500,000 invested over time and before the prices jumped.Learn to set goals and start chipping away.

@Kwaku Farkye   I have had success in Oak Park

The Agent is Susan K. at Golden Oaks. 

Instead of a two hour drive it's a two hour flight, but median home price is down around $270k or so making it quite affordable.For Sacramento Neighborhoods, here's where I would drive around for the nicer areas:Tahoe ParkNorthern Oak ParkCurtis ParkLand ParkMidtown / DowntownEast SacramentoFair OaksCarmichaelSouth NatomasThere's more to see, but that's a decent start to begin with.

We own a house that falls into your 3rd category near the edge of Sacramento and Rancho Cordova, a duplex in Fair Oaks, and a triplex in Roseville.